More people work in sports and physical recreation occupations than ever before, according to an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication released today.

ABS Director of the National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics, Andrew Middleton, said the publication 'Sport and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview' found that 95,590 people listed their main job as being in a sport and physical recreation occupation - the majority being male (58 per cent).

“Over 90 per cent of people working in sport and physical recreation occupations were employed within the private sector and 55 per cent were employed on a part-time basis,” Mr Middleton said.

Among the updated information featured in this publication is data on international trade.

"Sport and physical recreation goods exported from Australia during 2011-12 were valued at $285 million, decreasing 8 per cent from the $310 million recorded for the previous year.

"Boats, yachts and other vessels used for pleasure or sport, and horses, made up around 59 per cent of the total value of these goods. New Zealand, the United States of America and Hong Kong (SAR of China) were the main destinations for these products.

"The value of sport and physical recreation goods imported into Australia during 2011-12 was $2 billion - over seven times the value of sport and recreation exports. China and the USA were the major sources of these imports," Mr Middleton said.